# 1998 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1998 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1997–98 season, and the culmination of the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Western Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. It was the 105th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. The series was the Capitals' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history. The Red Wings swept the Capitals to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, capturing their ninth Stanley Cup in team history. This also marked the fourth consecutive Stanley Cup Finals to end in a sweep, and as of 2024 is the last Cup Final to end in a sweep.
The Red Wings became the fourth team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back sweeps, joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Islanders.
Detroit coach Scotty Bowman won his eighth Stanley Cup in that capacity (having previously done so with the Montreal Canadiens in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979, the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, and the Wings the previous year), tying him with former Canadiens coach Toe Blake for the record of most Cups won by a coach (which he would break when he helped the Red Wings win the 2002 Cup).

## Motivation to win a second straight title

Just six days after sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Finals, Red Wings defenceman Vladimir Konstantinov and masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov sustained serious brain injuries when the limousine in which they were riding crashed. Viacheslav Fetisov was also in the limousine but was not seriously injured. The Red Wings subsequently dedicated their 1997–98 season to the two injured members and wore a patch on their jerseys bearing the players' initials. When the Red Wings were presented with the Stanley Cup, they wheeled Konstantinov onto the ice and placed the Cup in his lap. They also took him for a victory lap around the rink.

## Paths to the Finals
### Detroit Red Wings

Detroit advanced to the Finals by defeating the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars in six games each.

### Washington Capitals

Washington defeated the Boston Bruins 4–2, the Ottawa Senators 4–1, and the Buffalo Sabres 4–2.

## Game summaries

In this series, Capitals head coach Ron Wilson became the first person to head coach in both an Olympics and a Stanley Cup Finals in the same year, having coached team USA at the Nagano Olympics. Peter Laviolette would join him in this feat in 2006 while with the Carolina Hurricanes during their championship season, having coached the American ice hockey team during the Torino Olympics.

### Game 1

At home, Detroit took an early lead in the first period and scored two goals within two minutes and 14 seconds of each other. The Red Wings were able to hold off a Washington assault and take the first game of the series with a score of 2–1.
Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | DET | Joe Kocur (4) | Doug Brown (1), Tomas Holmstrom (9) | 14:04 | 1–0 DET |
| 1st | DET | Nicklas Lidstrom (6) | Steve Yzerman (17), Tomas Holmstrom (10) | 16:18 | 2–0 DET |
| 2nd | WSH | Richard Zednik (7) | Andrei Nikolishin (12), Peter Bondra (5) | 15:57 | 2–1 DET |
| 3rd | None | None | None | None | None |
| Penalty summary ||||||
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time | PIM |
| 1st | DET | Martin Lapointe | Tripping | 04:21 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Mark Tinordi | Interference | 17:22 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Bench (served by Vyacheslav Kozlov) | Too many men on the ice | 05:48 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Steve Yzerman | Slashing | 08:51 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Chris Simon | Roughing | 18:06 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | WSH | Andrei Nikolishin | Interference | 00:38 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | DET | Joe Kocur | Roughing | 04:19 | 2:00 |

### Game 2

It looked as if the Capitals were to tie the series with a 4–2 lead in the third period, but after a Detroit goal to make it 4–3, Capitals forward Esa Tikkanen had a scoring opportunity midway through the third period that would have likely put Detroit away before the venue changed back to Washington's MCI Center, and also would have changed the entire dynamic of the series, but he missed the open net shot. Detroit then rallied late in the third period to tie the game and send it into overtime. Kris Draper scored with four minutes left in the first overtime to give the Red Wings a 5–4 victory and a 2–0 lead in the series.
Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | DET | Steve Yzerman (5) | Tomas Holmstrom (11), Nicklas Lidstrom (13) | 07:49 | 1–0 DET |
| 2nd | WSH | Peter Bondra (7) | Andrei Nikolishin (13), Jeff Brown (1) | 01:51 | 1–1 |
| 2nd | WSH | Chris Simon (1) | Jeff Brown (2), Dale Hunter (4) | 06:11 | 2–1 WSH |
| 2nd | WSH | Adam Oates (6) | Joe Juneau (8), Calle Johansson (8) | 11:03 | 3–1 WSH |
| 3rd | DET | Steve Yzerman (6) – sh | Viacheslav Fetisov (1), Darren McCarty (7) | 06:37 | 3–2 WSH |
| 3rd | WSH | Joe Juneau (7) – pp | Sergei Gonchar (4), Brian Bellows (7) | 07:05 | 4–2 WSH |
| 3rd | DET | Martin Lapointe (8) | Igor Larionov (9), Viacheslav Fetisov (2) | 08:08 | 4–3 WSH |
| 3rd | DET | Doug Brown (2) | Unassisted | 15:46 | 4–4 |
| OT | DET | Kris Draper (1) | Martin Lapointe (6), Brendan Shanahan (4) | 15:24 | 5–4 DET |
| Penalty summary ||||||
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time | PIM |
| 1st | WSH | Joe Reekie | Holding – Obstruction | 13:05 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Peter Bondra | Hooking – Obstruction | 15:22 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Kirk Maltby | High-sticking | 03:09 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Richard Zednik | Hooking – Obstruction | 07:12 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Chris Osgood | Unsportsmanlike conduct | 14:11 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Chris Simon | Roughing | 14:11 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Kirk Maltby | Slashing | 16:20 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | DET | Nicklas Lidstrom | Interference | 06:23 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | WSH | Richard Zednik | Cross checking | 10:18 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | DET | Martin Lapointe | Interference | 11:40 | 2:00 |
| OT | DET | Joe Kocur | Roughing | 05:24 | 2:00 |
| OT | WSH | Esa Tikkanen | Roughing | 05:24 | 2:00 |

### Game 3

Detroit scored in the first 35 seconds to take an early lead which held up until the third period. The Capitals tied the game midway through the third period, but Sergei Fedorov scored to give the Wings a three games to none lead in the series.
Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | DET | Tomas Holmstrom (7) | Steve Yzerman (18), Darren McCarty (8) | 00:35 | 1–0 DET |
| 2nd | None | None | None | None | None |
| 3rd | WSH | Brian Bellows (5) – pp | Adam Oates (10), Joe Juneau (9) | 10:35 | 1–1 |
| 3rd | DET | Sergei Fedorov (10) | Doug Brown (2), Viacheslav Fetisov (3) | 15:09 | 2–1 DET |
| Penalty summary ||||||
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time | PIM |
| 1st | WSH | Chris Simon | Slashing | 02:48 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Dale Hunter | Charging | 08:10 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Phil Housley | Elbowing | 12:29 | 2:00 |
| 1st | DET | Tomas Holmstrom | Goaltender interference | 13:11 | 2:00 |
| 1st | DET | Martin Lapointe | Interference | 17:01 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Todd Krygier | Roughing | 02:05 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Anders Eriksson | Holding – Obstruction | 07:29 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Igor Larionov | Tripping – Obstruction | 10:17 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Kris Draper | Roughing | 15:23 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Sergei Gonchar | Roughing | 15:23 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | WSH | Sergei Gonchar | Roughing | 05:50 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | DET | Darren McCarty | Tripping | 09:22 | 2:00 |

### Game 4

In game four, Detroit was dominant throughout to win the game by a score of 4–1 and sweep the series. Steve Yzerman was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. When the Cup was awarded, Vladimir Konstantinov was brought onto the ice in his wheelchair and joined the celebration with his team.
Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | DET | Doug Brown (3) – pp | Sergei Fedorov (9), Larry Murphy (12) | 10:30 | 1–0 DET |
| 2nd | DET | Martin Lapointe (9) | Igor Larionov (10), Bob Rouse (3) | 02:26 | 2–0 DET |
| 2nd | WSH | Brian Bellows (6) | Adam Oates (11), Joe Juneau (10) | 07:49 | 2–1 DET |
| 2nd | DET | Larry Murphy (3) – pp | Tomas Holmstrom (12), Sergei Fedorov (10) | 11:46 | 3–1 DET |
| 3rd | DET | Doug Brown (4) – pp | Vyacheslav Kozlov (8), Anders Eriksson (5) | 01:32 | 4–1 DET |
| Penalty summary ||||||
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time | PIM |
| 1st | DET | Anders Eriksson | Interference | 07:17 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Peter Bondra | Interference | 09:12 | 2:00 |
| 1st | WSH | Calle Johansson | Roughing | 11:01 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Kris Draper | Roughing | 09:13 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Mark Tinordi | Roughing | 09:13 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Esa Tikkanen | Goaltender interference | 11:02 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Igor Larionov | Hooking | 12:41 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | DET | Bob Rouse | High-sticking | 16:07 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | WSH | Mark Tinordi | Slashing | 19:53 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | DET | Viacheslav Fetisov | Roughing | 13:08 | 2:00 |

## Team rosters

Bolded years under Finals appearance indicates year won Stanley Cup.

### Detroit Red Wings

| # | Player | Position | Hand | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance |
| 30 | Chris Osgood | G | L | 1991 | Peace River, Alberta | third (1995, 1997) |
| 31 | Kevin Hodson | G | L | 1993–94 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | second (1997) (did not play) |
| 2 | Viacheslav Fetisov | D | L | 1994–95 | Moscow, Soviet Union | third (1995, 1997) |
| 3 | Bob Rouse | D | R | 1994–95 | Surrey, British Columbia | third (1995, 1997) |
| 5 | Nicklas Lidstrom – A | D | L | 1989 | Krylbo, Sweden | third (1995, 1997) |
| 15 | Dmitri Mironov | D | R | 1997–98 | Moscow, Soviet Union | first (did not play) |
| 16 | Vladimir Konstantinov | D | R | 1989 | Murmansk, Soviet Union | third (1995, 1997) (did not play) |
| 27 | Aaron Ward | D | R | 1993–94 | Windsor, Ontario | second (1997) (did not play) |
| 34 | Jamie Macoun | D | L | 1997–98 | Newmarket, Ontario | third (1986, 1989) |
| 44 | Anders Eriksson | D | L | 1993 | Bollnäs, Sweden | first |
| 55 | Larry Murphy | D | R | 1996–97 | Scarborough, Ontario | fourth (1991, 1992, 1997) |
| 8 | Igor Larionov | C | L | 1995–96 | Voskresensk, Soviet Union | second (1997) |
| 11 | Mathieu Dandenault | LW | R | 1994 | Sherbrooke, Quebec | second (1997) (did not play) |
| 13 | Vyacheslav Kozlov | LW | L | 1990 | Voskresensk, Soviet Union | third (1995, 1997) |
| 14 | Brendan Shanahan – A | LW | R | 1996–97 | Etobicoke, Ontario | second (1997) |
| 17 | Doug Brown | RW | R | 1994–95 | Southborough, Massachusetts | third (1995, 1997) |
| 18 | Kirk Maltby | RW | R | 1995–96 | Guelph, Ontario | second (1997) |
| 19 | Steve Yzerman – C | C | R | 1983 | Burnaby, British Columbia | third (1995, 1997) |
| 20 | Martin Lapointe | RW | R | 1991 | Ville St. Pierre, Quebec | third (1995, 1997) |
| 22 | Mike Knuble | RW | R | 1991 | Toronto, Ontario | first (did not play) |
| 25 | Darren McCarty | RW | R | 1992 | Burnaby, British Columbia | third (1995, 1997) |
| 26 | Joe Kocur | RW | R | 1996–97 | Kelvington, Saskatchewan | third (1994, 1997) |
| 33 | Kris Draper | C | L | 1993–94 | Toronto, Ontario | third (1995, 1997) |
| 41 | Brent Gilchrist | C | L | 1997–98 | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | second (1989) (did not play) |
| 91 | Sergei Fedorov | C | L | 1989 | Pskov, Soviet Union | third (1995, 1997) |
| 96 | Tomas Holmstrom | LW | L | 1994 | Piteå, Sweden | second (1997) |

### Washington Capitals

| # | Player | Position | Hand | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance |
| 30 | Bill Ranford | G | L | 1996–97 | Brandon, Manitoba | third (1988, 1990) (did not play) |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | G | L | 1989 | Johannesburg, South Africa | first |
| 2 | Ken Klee | D | R | 1990 | Indianapolis, Indiana | first |
| 6 | Calle Johansson – A | D | L | 1988–89 | Gothenburg, Sweden | first |
| 19 | Brendan Witt | D | L | 1993 | Humboldt, Saskatchewan | first (did not play) |
| 24 | Mark Tinordi | D | L | 1994–95 | Red Deer, Alberta | second (1991) |
| 28 | Jeff Brown | D | R | 1997–98 | Ottawa, Ontario | second (1994) |
| 29 | Joe Reekie | D | L | 1993–94 | Victoria, British Columbia | first |
| 55 | Sergei Gonchar | D | L | 1992 | Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union | first |
| 96 | Phil Housley | D | L | 1996–97 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | first |
| 9 | Todd Krygier | LW | L | 1995–96 | Chicago Heights, Illinois | first |
| 10 | Kelly Miller | LW | L | 1986–87 | Lansing, Michigan | first |
| 11 | Esa Tikkanen | LW | L | 1997–98 | Helsinki, Finland | sixth (1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994) |
| 12 | Peter Bondra | RW | L | 1990 | Bakovtsi, Soviet Union | first |
| 13 | Andrei Nikolishin | C | L | 1996–97 | Vorkuta, Soviet Union | first |
| 17 | Chris Simon | LW | L | 1996–97 | Wawa, Ontario | second (1996) |
| 20 | Michal Pivonka | C | L | 1984 | Kladno, Czechoslovakia | first (did not play) |
| 21 | Jeff Toms | C | L | 1997–98 | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | first |
| 22 | Steve Konowalchuk | LW | L | 1991 | Salt Lake City, Utah | first (did not play) |
| 23 | Brian Bellows | RW | R | 1997–98 | St. Catharines, Ontario | third (1991, 1993) |
| 27 | Craig Berube | LW | L | 1993–94 | Calahoo, Alberta | first |
| 32 | Dale Hunter – C | C | L | 1987–88 | Petrolia, Ontario | first |
| 36 | Mike Eagles | C/RW | L | 1993–94 | Sussex, New Brunswick | first |
| 44 | Richard Zednik | RW | L | 1994 | Banská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia | first |
| 77 | Adam Oates – A | C | R | 1996–97 | Weston, Ontario | first |
| 90 | Joe Juneau | C | L | 1993–94 | Pont-Rouge, Quebec | first |

## Stanley Cup engraving

The 1998 Stanley Cup was presented to Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman following the Red Wings 4–1 win over the Capitals in game four
The following Red Wings players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup
1997–98 Detroit Red Wings

### Players
#### Centres

* 19 Steve Yzerman (Captain)
* 8 Igor Larionov
* 33 Kris Draper
* 41 Brent Gilchrist
* 91 Sergei Fedorov

#### Wingers

* 11 Mathieu Dandenault
* 17 Doug Brown
* 14 Brendan Shanahan (A)
* 18 Kirk Maltby
* 20 Martin Lapointe
* 22 Mike Knuble
* 25 Darren McCarty
* 26 Joe Kocur
* 13 Vyacheslav Kozlov
* 96 Tomas Holmstrom

#### Defencemen

* 3 Bob Rouse
* 5 Nicklas Lidstrom (A)
* 2 Viacheslav Fetisov
* 15 Dmitri Mironov
* 16 Vladimir Konstantinov*
* 27 Aaron Ward
* 34 Jamie Macoun
* 44 Anders Eriksson
* 55 Larry Murphy

#### Goaltenders

* 30 Chris Osgood
* 31 Kevin Hodson

### Coaching and administrative staff

* Mike Ilitch Sr. (Owner/President/Governor), Marian Ilitch (Owner/Secretary-Treasurer), Atanas Ilitch (Vice President/minority Owner)
* Christopher Ilitch (Vice President/minority owner), Denise Ilitch Lites, Ronald Ilitch (Minority Owners)
* Michael Ititch Jr., Lisa Ilitch Murray, Carole Ilitch Trepeck (Minority Owners)
* Jim Devellano (Sr. Vice President), Ken Holland (General Manager), Don Waddell (Assistant General Manager), William Scotty Bowman (Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel)
* Barry Smith (Associate Coach), Dave Lewis (Associate Coach), Jim Nill (Director of Player Development/Director of Amateur Scouting), Dan Belise (Pro Scout), Mark Howe (Pro Scout)
* Jim Bedard (Goaltending Consultant), Hakan Andersson (Director of European Scouting), Mark Leach (Scout), Joe McDonnell (Scout)
* Bruce Haralson (Scout), John Wharton (Athletic Trainer), Paul Boyer (Equipment Manager), Tim Abbott (Asst. Equipment Manager)
* Bob Huddleston (Massage Therapist), Sergei Mnatsakanov (Masseur), Wally Crossman (Dressing Room Assistant)

### Stanley Cup engravings

* Konstantinov's career ended in a car accident. The Red Wings still recognized him as part of the team and got permission from the league to have his name engraved.
* Wally Crossman was the oldest person engraved on the Stanley Cup at age 87.
* Detroit wanted to include a record 55 names on the Stanley Cup in 1997–98. Following that request, the NHL decided to limit the number of names to 52 to make sure all names fit on the Cup. Players who play in Stanley Cup Finals, or play at least 41 regular season games for the winning team, must be included on the Cup each year. Other players who do not officially qualify may also be included if requested by the team. There are no rules for which non-players must be included on the Stanley Cup, only a limit on total number of names going on the cup. No player who officially qualifies may be left off to include more non-players.
Included on the team picture, but left off the Stanley Cup
* #34 Norm Maracle† (G – 4 games played), #21 Darryl Laplante† (D – played 2 games) did not qualify to win the Stanley Cup. Both players spent majority of the season of in the minors. Maracle played 66 games in goal for Adirondack while Darryl Laplante played 77 on defence.
* Art Mnatsusakanov†, Johnny Remejes†, Mike Vella† (Dressing Room Asst.) – all 5 members were awarded Stanley Cup Rings

## Broadcasting

In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, Fox broadcast game one while ESPN televised games two through four. Had the series extended, games five and seven would have been broadcast on Fox, and ESPN would have aired game six.

## Aftermath

The following season, the Red Wings would reach the Western Conference Semifinals, only to be ousted by the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Red Wings would make their next Stanley Cup Finals appearance four years later, where they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. They would also win the Stanley Cup in 2008 over the Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
The Capitals missed the playoffs the following year. They would not return to the Stanley Cup Finals until 20 years later, when they would win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history over the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in five games.